St. Barnabas

A Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas — "son of encouragement" — sold his land for the early Church and was the one who first vouched for Saul of Tarsus when the apostles still feared him. He travelled with Paul on the first missionary journey, presided at the Council of Jerusalem, and is honored as the founder of the Church in Cyprus, where he was eventually stoned to death.

The Acts of the Apostles describe him as "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," and his role in the early Church was that of a bridge-builder. He reconciled suspicious communities, mentored the newly converted Paul, and brought the young John Mark back into missionary service after Paul had refused him.

After parting from Paul over a disagreement about Mark, Barnabas returned to Cyprus to continue his evangelization. Tradition holds that he was martyred at Salamis around the year 61. His feast on June 11 honors the quiet, indispensable ministry of encouragement — the grace of seeing potential in others when no one else will.